Perforating die



May A. w. ALTVATER 2,080,994

- PERFORATING DIE Filed May 2, 1955 4 Shets-She et 1 1mm nllllllllml I A. W. ALTVATER PERFORATING DIE May 18, 1937.

Filed May 2:, 1955 4 Sheetg-Sheet s May 18, 193-7; A. w. AL TVATER 2,080,994?

PERFQRATING DIE Filed May 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \k/ 5 5 Wm/aw k a w P .1 i

Patented May 18, 1937 UNiTED STATES PATENT. OFFICE PERFOR/ATING DIE Arthur W. Altvater, University City, Mo.

Application May 2, 1935, Serial -N0. 19,392

34 Claims.

This invention involves a device for'per forating material and generally to perforating sheet material. More specifically it relates to a device for the ornamental perforation of shoe uppers.

In the device are provided a plurality of changeable die units that by thus being changeable can provide different designs. In particular, there is provided a die block having a plurality of die units or inserts removable therefrom. These die inserts may consist of perforating dies or cut out dies. Different combinations of these may be employed to obtain different designs. Inserts having diiierent designs may be selectively substituted in the die block in these various combinations. To this latter end, the die block is fashioned with a standard attaching means for the inserts, and plural passages for registering with any of the several inserts for purposes to be set out.

Likewise additional dies may be employed, which shall herein be designated as standard dies; since these, "as units, are not removable in the manner of the aforementioned die inserts. These standard dies are provided to cooperate with all combinations of the above mentioned sets of dies. A standard die may consist of a plurality of individually removable elements, by the elimination of some of which the pattern or design of the cut may be altered.

Likewise each insert is structurally made up of a plurality of parts, one of which parts comprises a standardized backing element or rest plate to engage the die block, and the second of which parts contains the die elements, and is removably mounted on the base element, whereby upon its removal, changes may be made in the die cut design. Where the die cut consists of a plurality of relatively small perforations, the perforating cutters are individually removably mounted in this aforementioned second element,

or tube plate, of the die. A different design may be accomplished by removing certain individual cutters and thus changing the combination of cutters, or tubes, used. To facilitate such changing, the two elements of the die insert are made readily separable, and equally readily reunitable.

Having the above in mind, the objects of the invention may now be set out.

One object is to provide a die block having a plurality of cutter inserts mounted thereon to be removable as units.

A further object is to provide a die block having a plurality of cutter inserts, and operable with one or more of them in different combinations, to effect diiierent designs.

A further object is to provide a die block and a plurality of interchangeable die blocks, different ones of which may be employed to effect different designs.

A further object is to provide die inserts of unique design, wherein each insert consists of a rest plate and a tube plate, and means for attaching them together, with the tubes or cutters in the tube plate, all as a unit. 7

A further object is to provide die inserts of 10 this type wherein individual cutters may be removed from the tube plate and the insert reassembled and installed to effect different designs.

A further object is to provide die inserts of this type comprising detachable units, readily disassemble'd whereby to replace worn parts; but wherein the several parts are tightly held together so as to preclude misalignment by inclusion of foreign matter between surfaces adapted to be in contact.

A further object is to include a so-called standard die, on a separate element of the structure, this die being adapted to be repeated regardless of changes in the remaining dies.

A further object is to provide a backing or rest plate for said standard die.

A further object is to provide for the ready replacement and removal of the cutter elements of the said standard die.

A further object is to provide for such removal without necessitating removal, or otherwise affecting, the previously mentioned die or dies. 7

A further object is to employ the rest plate of the standard die as means preventing removal of the previously mentioned dies. I 5

A further object is to provide a special stripper plate, secured to the aforesaid standard d-ie tube plate. q

Aafurther object is to provide for the removal of the stripper plate, and replacement thereof, with 40 out necessitating removal of the die block, or of certain of the dies.

A further object is to provide a gage of unique design mounted removably and replaceably on the stripper-plate. N 5

A further object is to provide means to unite all the elements of the device into a compact unit, from which none of the elements will freely fall.

A general object is to provide a perforating die having a plurality of die units,-a stripper plate and a gage; and from which any of the various units above or herein described may readily be removed without involving detachment of amultiplicity-or of any-srnall parts. In other words,

the elements making up each unit of the device 5 are so united as to permit removal of the units without disassembling the units into small and readily losable parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the entire structure in open position.

Fig. 2 is a view looking toward the upper portion of Fig. 1, but with the hinged plate thereof folded down. It is a bottom view of the stripper plate with its accompanying base plate.

Fig. 3 is a View looking down on the lower portion of Fig. 1 with the aforementioned hinged plate folded down.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device looking down on to the stripper plate.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the device.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the device in folded condition, looking from the lower part of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an edge view from the left side of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a section on the broken line Ill-I0 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a section on line of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a section of |2|2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the removable die units.

Fig. 14 is a plan View of another removable die unit.

As shown in Fig. l, the device embodies a die block 20 upon which may be secured. die units 2| and 22. Hinged to the die block 20 is a plate 23. The hinged plate 23 is adapted to fold down over the die plate as is shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Removably attached to the hinged plate 23 is a stripper base plate 24, the means for attaching which to the hinged plate 23 will be described hereafter. A stripper plate 25 is attached to its base plate 24 by means hereinafter described that resiliently maintain the stripper plate spaced from its base plate 24.

With the device assembled as is shown in Fig. 1, it may be folded together to the position shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7. In this position, a clamping device generally indicated at 26 has an element that engages releasably with a depression 21 in the front edge of the die block 20 to maintain the device closed.

On top of the stripper plate 25 is removably fastened an edge gage 30, that is located in the desired predetermined relation with the perforating or punch elements of the die. The work is held in the stripper plate by means of a clamp 33, which clamp is secured to the stripper plate 25.

From the description thus far given, it may be seen that a shoe vamp or the like is placed on the stripper plate 25, engaged against the edge of the gage 30, and held in position by the clamp 33. Supposing, then, that the die block is suitably engaged in a press, the presser member thereof will come down over the stripper plate 25 and the vamp thereon, and will depress the same, whereupon the die cutters will project through openings 3| and 32 and properly perforate the shoe vamp.

The die block 20 is provided with suitable openings 35 (Fig. 5) through which screws may be engaged, by means of which the block may be secured to the bed of the press. Through the die block are cut openings 36% and 31 that are adapted to register with the reverse ends of die cutters to be described hereinafter.

Dies 2| and 22 are placed on the die block 20.

Die 2| is provided with pins 38 and 39 (Fig. 3) that engage in aligning holes such as 4| shown in Fig. 11. By this means die 2| is properly aligned on the die block. The die 2| comprises an upper cutter or die-element holding plate 42 through which may be mounted the desired number of perforating cutters 43, the cutters 43 being slid through suitable openings in the said plate. A backing or rest plate 44 is located against the reversed ends of the cutters. As is shown in Fig. 12, the cutters here illustrated are tubular and have flanges 45 at their base ends. These flanges limit the upward movement of the cutters through plate 42. Holes are located in plate 44 corresponding to the location of the cutters 43. These holes 46, however, as will be seen, are not as large in diameter as the outer diameter of "the flanges 45, whereby the plate 44 serves to maintain cutters 43 in position and prevent their being forced out by pressure downwardly on them during the operation of the device. Holes 46 register with openings 36 in the die block, whereby chips or portions of the sheet cut out by the die can be removed. It will be understood that the die block can accommodate diiferent inserts having various designs thereon. This requires that the die block be provided with additional openings, as 48, that can register with openings such as 46 in such other die inserts.

Ordinarily a die block will be provided to work I with several specified die inserts; but if complete interchangeability is desired, a standard die block can be used.

The plate 42 is provided with openings, such as 49 in Fig. 11, that engage over the projecting ends of the heretofore described pins 38 and 39 to properly locate plate 42 with respect to the backing plate 44. This is necessary because backing plate 44 is aligned with the die block and die plate 42 is aligned therewith only by being properly aligned with the backing plate 44. Plates 42 and 44 are also held together by means of spring locks 50. As shown in Fig. 11, these spring locks are made of pins 5| having kerfed heads. Between the head and the backing plate 44 are located coiled springs 52 that force the pins outwardly in the direction of their heads. Cross stops 53 are located in the upper ends of the pins at the opposite side of plate 44. The plate 42 is provided with relatively small holes 54 extending therethrough and relatively larger bores 55 countersunk in the top side thereof. Transverse elongate cuts 56 extend through the plate 42 from the bottom part of the countersunk bores 55.

To secure the plates 42 and 44 together, the holes are engaged over pins 38 and 39. When this is done the holes 54 will be located directly over pins 5|. The pins are then pressed against springs 52 and twisted. This forces the cross stops 53 through openings 56 and the twisting carries them over to lock against the bottom of the countersunk bores 53. Of course, the kerfs are provided for manipulation of the pins 55 by means of screw drivers. In view of the fact that the pins 5| project below the surface of plate 44, holes 51 are formed in die block 20 to accommodate the pins and permit plate 44 to rest fiat on the die block. The springs 52 are made stiff, so as to exert strong pressure between plates 42 and 44, thus insuring snug engagement between them that prevents ingress of chips, dirt etc. therebetween, that would throw them out of alignment.

Die 22 is here shown as a cut out die and is somewhat different from the perforating die -2I. It comprises a cutter or tube plate 60 secured to a backing or rest plate 6| by means of. screws 62. Through the rest plate 6-I pass pins 63 and 6,4, which pins are secured to plate BI. Openings '65 and 66 in the tube plate 80 fit closely over the pins 63 and 64 respectively and align the two plates properly. As will be understood, cut out dies 6'! may be arranged in any desirable manner on the plate 69. The pins 63 and 64 are adapted likewise to engage in openings 69 and I0 in the die block 20 and thereby to align the die upon the die block. Cut outs H are provided in the base plate BI, and these register withthehollow cutter '61, and also with the cut cuts 36 heretofore mentioned as being in the dieblock 20. Thus the portion cut out of the vamp by the dies may pass through these several passages and be discharged away from the mechanism; It willbe understood that it is not necessary to .employ a cut out type die here as distinguished from a perforating die; and the latter maybe substitute herein for the former.

The hinged plate 23, hinged on the base plate 20 by hinges I5, is adapted to fit closely against the die block 20. The plate 23 is provided with a cut out IB (Fig. 1), through which the dies:.2 l and 22 may fit. More exactly, the opening I6 surrounds both backing plates 44 and BI which, for reasons to be noted hereafter, extend outwardly a bit beyond the boundaries of the die plates '42 and 80. This plate 23 has resilient spacers TI projecting from the top surface thereof. These spacers comprise headed pins shown more in detail in Fig, 9. Springs 18 surround the pins and force the heads thereof upwardly, the pins being prevented from removal from the plate 23 by having flared portions I9. It will be clear that these pins normally project upwardly from the top surface of 23 but may be depressed. Likewise fastened to the hinged plate 23 are locks 80 shown in detail in Fig. -9. As these looks are substantially identical with the locks 50 heretofore described, a detailed description of them is not believed to be necessary. They are adapted to engage through openings 8| in the stripper base plate 24 shown clearly in Fig. 2 and be twisted therein whereby to hold the stripper base plate securely to the hinged plate 23. The springs thereof are of suflicient strength to bind the plates tightly together so as to preclude ingress of foreign matter therebetween.

The plate 24 has secured thereto, 'by means of screws or the like '82, the stripper plate 25. The screws 82, by means of their heads, limit the movement of the stripper plate 25 away from its base plate 24. Spacer collars 83 may be located around the screws 82 'to space'the heads properly away from thestripper plate, into which the screws are fastened. The plate 24 is provided with openings 84 adapted to register with and to permit the passage of elements TI, so that the aforesaid elements Il may engage directly against the stripper plate when plates 23 and 24 are secured together. Holes85 are provided in the hinge plate) to accommodate for the projecting heads of the screws 82 and to permit the plates 24 and 25 to be engaged snugly together, as is shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

It may be observed at this time, that the die block '20 is provided with suitable out out portions so that the various screws and locking-elements are readily accessible from below- Secured to the stripper :base plate :24, is the heretofore described latch '26. This latch comprises anextensi-on 86 fastened to the plate 24, and which extension has downwardly projecting and spaced ears 81 and 88. These ears are apertured to receive and support a sliding pin 89 that projects through both of them. Its projection through the ear 81 is limited by a pin 90. Against this pin and against the ear 88 acts a coil spring 9I that forces the pin outwardly through the ear 81. vA cross handle 92 is provided for pulling the stem 89 against the action of the spring 9| and. withdrawing the portion that projects through the ear 81. This projecting portion is adapted to engage in a depression 21 in the die block 20,. It is shown withdrawn in Fig. 5. A cut out portion 93' is provided in hinged plate 23 to accommodate this latch when the device is in closed position.

On the. plate 24 are mounted the heretofore described set of standard perforating cutters designated as I00. These cutters are similar to cutters 43 and individual elements thereof may be removed so. as to change the design produced by the unit. These perforations will project through the openings 32 in the stripper plate 25. .The hinged plate 23 acts as a backing. .or

rest plate for the die elements I00 to prevent their removal when pressure is exerted downwardly against them. Openings IOI are formed in the hinged plate 23 and adapted to register with the openings of the perforated cutters I00. Opening 37 in the die block 20 likewise is in registry with these openings IIJI. The portion of the work cut out by dies I00 is conveyed through them, andv away by m'eans of openings MI and 31.

The stripper plate, secured to its base plate 24 by screws 82 and resiliently maintained spaced thereabove by elements TI, is provided with the hereinbefore described openings 3| and 32 that may register with the cutters 43, 67 and I00;

so that when the stripper plate is depressed, the

inserts having designs other than that shown, I

additional openings such as 98' are provided therein. It will be understood that these openings 98 are merely illustrative, and that any suitable number or arrangement of openings may be provided to accommodate any series of inserts.

An edge gage 30 suitably formed to correspond to the shape of the work, is fastened to the top surface of the stripper plate. It is properly aligned by means of pins I03 that project upwardly from the surface of the stripper plate and engage closely in suitable openings in the gage. A pin I84 on the gage projects through the stripper plate 25 and has a head on such projecting portion. A slide I05 having a handle I08 therefor, is secured to stripper plate 25 by means of headed pins I01 engaged in slots I08.

A slot I09, having an enlarged portion thereof of the slot I09'will register with the pin I04 and permit the pin to be withdrawn and the edge gage removed. It will be understood'that other gages having differently shaped edges may be substituted for this: one, it beingnecessary only that such other gages have proper openings and" pins as described for the one shown. I

A spring clip fastener 33 is also secured tothe stripper plate. This spring consists of a top portion Hi9 riveted to a back portion H0 which back portion is secured to the stripper plate as at Ill. An opening 2 through the stripper plate permits the sections I69 and H0 to be secured together.

The device operates as follows:

Die block 20 is suitably installed on the bed plate of a press, the hinged plate 23 being fastened on to the die block. The desired combination of cutters or inserts is then installed in the die block 20, various pins 38, 39, 63 and 64 being engaged in their proper openings 49, 65, etc., in the die block.

It will be understood that prior to their being installed, the inserts are assembled with the desired number of cutter tubes or the like arranged in the tube plates such as 42 and the tube plates engaged with their rest plates, as 44, and se cured together by means of the locks 50. The stripper plate assembly is then mounted on the hinged plate 23, the pins 71 projecting through the openings 84 of hinged plate 23 and resiliently spacing the hinged plate and stripper plate. Locks 80 are then duly engaged through the openings 8| of plate 24, thus binding plates 23 and 24 tightly and closely together. The dies 2| and 22 project through opening 16 on the hinge plate and the smaller corresponding opening 16' of the stripper base plate 24.

It will be understood that prior to mounting the stripper plate on the hinged plate, the desired number of standard cutters I00 are in-- serted into plate.24. When plates 23 and 24 are secured together, the former acts as a backing or rest plate for said cutters I00.

When thus the stripper plate assembly is mounted, the stripper plate is spaced by pins 11 above the tops of the die cutters with the openings 3i and 32 adapted to register with the die 'cutters upon depression of the stripper plate.

The hinged plate is then folded down, latch pin 89 being withdrawn by its handle 92, and then released to engage in the depression 21 in die block 20 so as to maintain the device folded in closed position. In this position, opening 16' will pass over the smaller plates 42 and 60 but as this opening is smaller than backing plates 44, etc., the edges of plate 24 surrounding opening 16 will engage against the top of plates 44 and GI to hold the die inserts in place. It will be understood that the opening 16 in the hinged plate 23 passes over the plates 44 and GI so that the plate 23 engages snugly against the die block 20.

The sheet material is then properly engaged against the edge gage 30 which locates it properly with respect to the cutters. It is maintained in this position by the spring clamp 33, which, in its construction, lies substantially flat on the stripper plate 23 and will not be kicked up by the descending presser element. The clip is elevated by pressing against the projection over opening H2.

With the elements arranged as thus described, the press descends upon the top of the work and stripper plate forcing the same down so that the cutters are projected through the openings 3i and 32, and thus cut the sheet. It will be evident that the portions cut out may pass out through the inside of the hollow cutters, through the holes such as 46, l I, and 36, and disposed of from below. When the press is withdrawn, of course, the work is taken out and new work inserted.

3 To install a new or different edge gage on the stripper plate, handle I06 is slid outwardly, gage 30 removed and a different gage installed over pins I03, such new gage also having a pin corresponding to I04, which may be engaged by returning handle I06 to its original position.

To install other die inserts latch 89 is withdrawn and the device is hinged open. In this position the die inserts may be removed readily without detaching any other structure from the device. These inserts may be repaired by taking them out, disengaging their looks 50 and repairing as desired, such as by installing new tubular cutters. It will be seen that this operation on the inserts does not affect the standard cutters. These last named may be removed or replaced by releasing locks and removing the stripper plate and its base that detach as a unit from hinge plate 23. The cutters I00 may then be removed or replaced as desired. It will be seen that this last replacement in no way requires any change in the assembly of the inserts. Of course, it will be understood that additional stripper plates may be installed also at this time.

,From-. the above. description, it will be clear that. applicant has provided a perforating die comprising several units, each of which may be removed and replaced or changed without removing the others. Also each may be disassembled without the necessity of detaching small parts that might be displaced. It will also be clear that the device has been provided to accomplish each and everyone of the specific objects and other objects that are manifested herein.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a die block, die means mounted thereon, means movable against the die means for holding the said means in the die block, and a stripper plate mounted on said movable holding means.

2. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a plate, means hingedly mounting the plate on the die block, dies on said plate, and dies removably mounted on the die block, the hinged mounting giving access to the removable dies without disturbing the first-named dies.

3. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a plate hinged to the block, a second plate secured to the hinged plate, die means on the second plate, and removable die means on the die block, the removable die means being made accessible by swinging of the hinged plate.

4. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a die insert thereon consisting of a plate and perforating means, a, second plate hinged to said block, said hinged plate having an opening therein to receive said first plate and its perforating means, a third plate secured to said hinged plate, and means in said third plate to receive and pass said perforating means but not said first plate, wherebysaid third plate holds said die insert onto said die block.

5. A device as in claim 4, together with a stripper plate superposed over said dies.

6. A device of the kind described, including a die block, a first plate secured thereto, a second plate, means resiliently securing the first and second plates together, and one of said plates having dies thereon, a stripper plate, and means on one of said plates for resiliently maintaining said stripper plate spaced from said dies.

'7'. A device of the kind described, including a die block, a die insert having die elements there'- cn, means for locating said insert on said die block, plate means fitting over and engaging part of said die insert, and having opening means for passing said die elements, and clamp means engaging said plate means and said die block, and holding them together whereby said die insert is maintained in fixed position on said die block.

8. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a die insert thereon, a plate, meanshinging the plate to said block for swinging to overlie said block, die means on said plate adapted to be brought into cooperative relationshipv .to said die insert upon swinging of said block as described, and openings in said die block adapted to register with said die means when said hinged plate is thus swung over said block.

9. In a device of the kin-cl described, a plate member, a die holding member attached thereto, dies on said die holding member, a stripper plate adapted to cooperate with said dies, means resiliently spacing the stripper plate from said die holding member, and gage means removably mounted on said stripper plate to locate the work relative to the dies.

10. In a device of the kind described, a stripper plate, gage means, and latch means removably securing the gage means on to the plate.

11. A stripper plate adapted to cooperate with any selected one of a series of gages all of which have similar attaching means thereon, said stripper plate having locating and releasable locking means thereon, in combination with one of said gages, said gage having means as aforesaid to coact with said locating and locking means.

12. A device of the kind described, including a die block, a die insert removably mounted thereon, a plate, means securing the plate to the block, additional die means on said plate capable of cooperating with said die of said insert, and said dies on said plate being removable therefrom in whole or individually, whereby the die design may be altered by complete removal thereof or by partial removal thereof, and also whereby said dies may be replaced.

13. A device of the kind described including a die block, a die insert thereon, a second die means,

and a stripper plate, means connecting said second die means and stripper plate togethen'and for connecting the two of them as a unit to said block, said die insert being removable without affecting said second die means, said stripper plate being removable without afiecting either of said die means, and said second die means being removable without disturbing said die insert.

14. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a die insert, means attached to said die block for attaching said insert thereto, a stripper plate, and means attached to said first named attaching means for attaching the stripper plate thereto.

15. In a device of the kind described, a die block, dies mounted thereon, a plate, means hingingthe plate to said die block, said plate being adapted to hold the dies in place, and a stripper plate mounted on said plate whereby to be swung therewith to give access to the dies.

16. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a die insert, a plate hinged to said die block, a second plate secured to said hinged plate, a stripper plate, means fastening said stripper plate to said second plate to permit said stripper plate to move toward or away from the second plate but limiting the movement away therefrom, and

18. A device of the kind described including a die block, a die insert, said insert including a rest plate, a c'utter'plate, cutters on said cutter plate, said cutter plate being smaller than said rest plate, means securing said cutter plate to said rest plate leaving the rest plate projecting beyond the limits of the cutter plate, means fitting over the insert and having an opening for passing said cutters, and engaging the projecting part of the rest plate to maintain the insert in position on the die block.

19. A die means including a rest plate, a cutter plate, cutters extending through said cutter plate and removable therefrom, said rest plate being adapted to underlie said cutter plate and engage the cutters to maintain them in position in thethe cutters to maintain them in position in the cutter plate, and spring actuated, quickly releasable locking means for holding the two plates together.

21. A die insert including a rest plate and a cutter plate, pins on one of said plates, the other havingholes to receive said pins to properly align said plates relative to each other, and spring fasteners for holding the plates together.

22. In a device of the'kind described, a die block, a die insert, a plate for holding the die insert onto the die block,'means entirely secured to the dieblock for holding said plate on said block and operable to permit removal of the insert, a stripper plate, and means securing said stripper plate to said last named plate. 7

23. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a die insert, a plate hinged to said die block, a second'plate, additional dies on said second plate, means entirely secured to said hinged plate for securing said second plate thereto, said second plate acting to secure said die insert to said die block, a stripper plate, and means securing the stripper plate to the second plate.

24. In a device of the kind described, a die block, dies, means supporting said dies on said die block, a stripper plate adapted to cooperate with said dies, means hingedly mounting the stripper plate on the die block, means resiliently spacing the stripper plate from the die block, gage means, and means latching the gage means in association with the stripper plate and dies for hinging movement with the stripper plate, said latch means being releasable to permit removal of said gage means.

25. In a device of the kind described, a die block, die units, said die block and said die units having interengaging means for supporting the die units on said block, whereby different die units having similar interengaging means may be mounted on said block, a stripper plate, gage means, and means removably latching the gage means onto the stripper plate.

26. In a device of the kind described, a die block, die units mounted thereon, a plate hinged on said die block, a stripper plate supported by and resiliently maintained in spaced relation to said plate, and gage means latched onto said stripper plate.

27. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a die insert thereon, a plate, means hinging the plate to said block for swinging to overlie said block, die means on the plate adapted to be brought into cooperative relationship to said die insert upon swinging of the block as described, openings on said die block adapted to register with said die means when said hinged plate is thus swung over said block, a stripper plate, and a gage means for aligning the work relative to said die insert and die means.

28. A device of the kind described, including a die block plate, a die unit, interengaging means on said block and said die unit for removably supporting the unit on the block, a plate hinged to the block, additional die means on the plate, and adapted to be brought into cooperative relation to said die unit by swinging said plate on its hinges, a base plate, means securing the base plate to the hinged plate, a stripper plate, means resiliently maintaining the stripper plate in spaced relation to said dies, a gage with securing elements, and cooperating elements on the stripper plate for removably securing the gage thereto, said gage comprising any selected one of the series of gages all of which have the same securing means whereby the proper gage may be employed for a given arrangement of said dies.

29. A device of the kind described including a stripper plate, and means for maintaining work in position thereon, said means comprising a blade, extending over the working surface of the stripper plate, and resilient means secured to the other surface of the stripper plate and to the blade, said resilient means urging the blade against the plate.

30. A device of the kind described including a stripper plate, adapted for use with a presser element and means for holding work thereon, said means comprising a blade, means mounting the blade across the working face of the stripper plate so that the working end thereof may be swung away from the plate, said mounting means including elements urging said end of the blade toward the plate, the mounting means being at all times below the upper surface of the working end of the blade whereby the presser element upon descent will not swing the blade off of the work.

31. A device of the kind described including a stripper plate, a blade extending across the working face of the stripper plate to secure the work thereto, a spring blade secured at one end to the under face of the stripper plate and at the other end to one end of the first blade around a suitable edge of the stripper plate, said second blade extending in such direction relative to the first blade that depressing the joined end of the two blades lifts the other end of the first blade.

32. In a device of the kind described, a die block, a plurality of diecutters, means removably mounting said cutters as a unit on said die block, a first plate, additional die cutters on said plate and adapted to cooperate with said first-named cutters, a stripper plate, means mounting said stripper plate on said first plate, and means mounting said first plate over said die block for separation therefrom to give access to said first cutters.

33. In a device of the kind described, a die block, die means thereon, a stripper plate, means hingedly mounting the stripper plate to the die block for swinging thereover, means on said stripper plate to cooperate with complementary means on any one of a series of different gages all having the same such complementary means, and one of said gages adapted thus to be removably mounted on said stripper plate to swing therewith.

34. In a device of the kind described, a die block, dies thereon, a stripper plate adapted to be depressed over said dies, by a presser member, gage means on said stripper plate to align the work relative to the dies, and a clamp on said stripper plate to hold the work in proper relation to said gage, said clamp comprising a blade having a free end by which it may be tilted from the work, and means securing said clamp to said stripper plate to prevent tilting of said free end by the movement of said presser member.

ARTHUR W. ALTVATER. 

